Apparatus for cleaning conduits, etc.



Aug. 24 1926. 1,597,635

R. STICKDORN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING `(JOIDUITS, ETC

Filed March 50, 1926 Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CONDUITS, ETC.

Application filed March 30, 1926, Serial No. 98,534, and in Germany April 26, 1924.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cleaning siphons of sinks, tubs, water-closets and the like, and more particularly in apparatus comprising a pipe or tube adapted to be placed into position between the inlet end of the said siphon and a supply of water. under pressure. The object of the improvements is to provide an apparatus of thisl type which can be readily brought into position between the siphon and the water supply, and which is constructed so as to provide a tight joint between the same and the Siphon and Water supply. With this object in View my in-l apparatus as used for flushing the siphon.

Fig. 3 is a detail View on a reduced scale showing the top part of the apparatus and a faucet having the apparatus attached thereto, and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation of the bottom part of the apparatus illustrating a modification.

In the example shown in the figures my improved apparatus comprises a flexible tube a connectedat its ends to bells b and e, the bell e secured to the bottom of the tube being larger than the bell b secured to the top thereof. The said bells are formed with axial tubular extensions c and f having lscrew-threads of large pitch pressed therein, by means of which they are screwed into the opposite ends of thel tube.V To fix the ends of the tube in position on the said screw-threaded extensions sleeves AL and i are placed on the top and bottom ends of the tube and in position for closely embracing the said ends when screwing the extensions c and f into the same.

The bell b is formed at its upper -marvin with a flange d embraced by an inwardly directed flange Z of a disk of rubber or similar elastic medium place on the top of the flange. As appears from Fig. l, the said disk is formed with a central hole c 'having a tapering wall le', and it is reduced in thickness from the margin towards the said central hole. Between the sleeve it and the bell I) ,there is a ring m formed with an eye aand a hook p, and the eye fa has a chain o attached thereto, which chain is adapted to be placed around a faucet g yand attached with its free end to the hook p.

The apparatus is used as follows :v For flushing a siphon the upper bell b is first at-4 tached to the faucet g, the said faucet being passed through the hole lo into the bell. Thereby the inner parts of the rubber disk j are bent inwardly, and they press themselves around the faucet, the tapering inner part of the disk providing a lip j by means of which the outlet g of the faucet is tightly embraced. Now the chain 0 is placed above the faucet in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and attached With its free end to the hook p, so that it holds the apparatus in position on the faucet against the pressure of the water acting on the inner wall of the bell b. Now the bell e iS placed above the inlet end a of the siphon 'v of the tub or water-closet, the flexible rin s being placed on the bottom of the sai tub and bent upwardly thereby into the position corresponding to the form of the tub. In Fig. 2 I have shown a tub having a plane bottom. If the said bottom is concave the ring s adapts itself to the said form. By having the said ring inclined inwardly and downwardly a tight joint is insured even in case of tubs vhaving elliptical or irregular bottoms. Now the faucet is opened, and the water rushes through the tube a and the Siphon e. By the pressure of the water-,the tapering inner lips of the disk j and the ring s are pressed into contact with the faucet and the bottom of the tube respectively, so that flushing under comparatively high pressure is possib-le. I have found that a tight joint is produced by the disk even with faucets having outlets g of oval or flat cross-sections.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the iange g of the bell e is bent rearwardly or upwardly. Therefore I am enabled to use a flat ring s, the sarid ring being bent into conical form by being placed on the conical flange g. This construction is preferable because ordinarily a flat ring can be manufactured at lower cost than a conical ring.

IVhile in describing the invention reference has been made to a particular example embodying the same I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the construction shown in the drawing, and that various changes may be made in the general arrangement of the apparatus and the construction of its parts without departing from the invention. I wish it to be understood that the apparatus may -be used for ushing conduits generally, and that reference has been Amade to cleaning a Siphon merely for the purpose-of giving a practical example of the use of the apparatus.

I claimzl. An apparatus for cleaning 'conduits comprising a tubular member, means for connecting the tubular member to a supply of water under pressure, a delivery bell at the end of the said-,tubular member, an annular flange extending outwardly' from the. dclivery end of said bell, and a flexible packing ring provided with an internal annular lgroove for accommodating the flange and having an inwardly and downwardly extending frusto-conical portion adapted to be flexed upwardly when in contact relation with the object to be cleaned so as to form a seal joint and said flange compressing a part -of the frusto-conical portion of the ring whereby to ensure of the entire lower surface of the rusto-conical portion contact- -ing with the object being cleaned, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. An apparatus for cleaning conduits as claimed in claim l, wherein a iat packing ring is employed and wherein the annular iange on the bell is also directed slightly upwardly, so that when engaged with the fiat ring the ring will be caused to assume a frusto-conical position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereofI aiiix my signature.

ROBERT STICKDORN. 

